truk rambles

On the grounds of the Shack-Up Inn, a little after sunrise.

Dave finding the blues between sips of caffeine.

Many friends surprised me for my 40th birthday, brought together by Kath.

See pulled the same trick on my 30th in Wilmington, NC.

I almost ended up in this stream when I slipped while crossing a short bridge, rode sideways for a bit, and somehow hung the bike over the edge, balanced on its shifter. All in the pouring rain. Alone.

Eventually, Wisch and Dave rode to my rescue, but by then, the bike was already in the water.

After a crosstown bus from Dun Laoghaire to Phoenix Park, we spent our waning hours in Ireland basking under a cool, dripping sky and staring up with wonder at two of Dublin’s most historic churches, St. Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedral.

Kath and I took the DART lightrail down to the seaside suburb of Dun Laoghaire (pronounced dun-LEERY).

It was a beautiful afternoon, and we walked the harbor wall and climbed a hill to see some of the old churches, one of which has been turned into a mariner’s museum.

This is a tower in the Commons area.

This free exhibit was fascinating and a great bookend on many of the things we saw circling the island.

These stands with bikes available for easy and cheap rent are spread throughout Dublin.

Many cities have them now, but I hadn’t seen an easy hire system like this up close.

We saw these bikes being used all over, by tourists and Dubliners alike.

Kath and I enjoyed a tasty dinner at the historic Bewley’s.

Yeah, I hadn’t heard of it before, either, until I got to Dublin. Apparently, it is Joyce’s Ulysses, as apparently about half the town.

This is the main shopping district in the Irish capital city, a great place for people-watching on a cloudy, drizzly Saturday.

This site, only 35 miles north of Dublin, was constructed in the mid-12th century as the first Cistercian structure in Ireland, and it heralded the beginning of Continental architecture on the island.

Now, little remains other then this lavabo, an octagonal building where the monks washed up.

We had a fun time exploring Belfast this afternoon, from a drink at the historic Crown Bar, to strolling through the Botanic Gardens and Queens University, and then seeing a parade for Irish Special Olympians at Victoria Market.

Kath and I went on a Bogtown walking tour in Derry, given by a member of the IRA. Very interesting.

The Count of Anytime lived in this castle, perched on a crumbling ledge overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, until a stormy night in 1639, when the kitchen and several servant collapsed into the sea.

Depending on who you ask, this strange rock formation on the north coast of Ireland was either created by a giant, Finn McCool, or by an unusual cooling process on basalt columns after a lava flow.

It isn’t the 8th wonder of the world, but it is something unusual among beautiful cliff and a gentle sea.

This drive along the northern coast of Ireland is stunning, with cliffside ocean views and emerald fields filled with sheep.

Kath and I just found the ruins of this 18th-century house, as well as its beautiful gardens and stark architecture, fascinating.

For some reason, these photos didn’t upload the first time.

This is a 12th-century Irish Romanesque church, surrounded by medieval tombs, a Celtic Cross, and an ogham stone used to seal deals by touching thumbs through a hole in the top.